Aloe plant named &#39;AMIAL1605&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Aloe aristata  cultivar named ‘AMIAL1605’ which is characterized by a flattened globular plant shape, a short plant height, ovate foliage with a short apiculate apex, dark green mature foliage with a moderately dense occurrence of prominent white papillae on both the adaxial and abaxial surfaces, as well as the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the Community Plant Variety Rights application number 2015/1965, filed Aug. 11, 2016, which is herein incorporated by reference.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is Aloe aristata.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Aloe disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘AMIAL1605’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘AMIAL1605’ originated as a naturally occurring, whole-plant mutation of the species Aloe aristata (not a named variety or cultivar). In February of 2012 the inventor discovered the mutation at a commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands, growing amongst a crop of the species Aloe aristata. The mutation was noted for its prominent white papillae on the foliage and was subsequently isolated for further evaluation in order to confirm the distinctness and stability of the characteristics first observed. Upon confirmation of distinctness and stability, ‘AMIAL1605’ was selected for commercialization in the summer of 2014.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘AMIAL1605’, by way of rooting leaf cuttings, was first initiated in the summer of 2015 at the inventor's commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands. The claimed plant has since been asexually propagated by way of meristematic tissue culture propagation. Through four subsequent generations, the unique features of this cultivar have proven to be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘AMIAL1605’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘AMIAL1605’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘AMIAL1605’ as a new and distinct Aloe aristata cultivar:

-   -   1. ‘AMIAL1605’ exhibits thick succulent foliage, arranged in a         basal rosette, with a flattened globular profile and a shorter         overall plant height; and     -   2. ‘AMIAL1605’ exhibits foliage that is slightly curved upward,         with innermost whorls of foliage appearing to be more loosely         held; and     -   3. ‘AMIAL1605’ exhibits ovate foliage with dentate leaf margins,         an acute to broadly acute apex, and a short caudate tip; and     -   4. ‘AMIAL1605’ exhibits dark green mature foliage with a         moderately dense occurrence of prominent white papillae on both         the adaxial and abaxial surfaces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of ‘AMIAL1605’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands. This plant is approximately 9 months old, shown planted in a 15 cm container.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the typical foliage arrangement of ‘AMIAL1605.

FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the adaxial surface of the mature foliage ‘AMIAL1605’.

FIG. 4 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the abaxial surface of the mature foliage ‘AMIAL1605’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements made in October of 2016 describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 9 months old ‘AMIAL1605’ plants grown in 15 cm nursery containers at commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands. Plants were produced using conventional greenhouse production protocols for Aloe which consisted of minimal irrigation and fertilizer applications, and chemical pest and disease control measures against mealy bug and Botrytis as required. Plants were grown under approximately 50 percent shade after propagation and later exposed to full sun once they began to mature. No photoperiodic treatments or artificial light was given to the plants.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘AMIAL1605’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may differ from the descriptions set forth herein with variations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘AMIAL1605’ and a comparison with the parent and closest known comparator is provided below.

-   Plant description:     -   -   Growth habit.—Succulent perennial with foliage growing in a             non-branched basal rosette.         -   Plant shape.—Flattened globular.         -   Height from soil level to top of foliar plane.—8.5 cm.         -   Plant spread.—Average of 13.7 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Low to moderate.         -   Plant vigor.—Low to moderate.         -   Propagation.—Type — Leaf cuttings. Time to initiate rooting             — Approximately 28 to 35 days at 18 degrees Celsius. Crop             time — Approximately 15 to 20 weeks to produce a marketable             plant in a 7 cm container.         -   Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—Neither             resistance nor susceptibility to typical Aloe aristata pests             and diseases has been observed.         -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to, at least, USDA Zones 10             to 12 and temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius; low             tolerance to rain; high tolerance to wind. -   Root system:     -   -   General.—Fine, well-branched fibrous roots. -   Stems:     -   -   Branching habit.—Leaves in a non-branching basal rosettes;             no main branches or lateral branches present. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Rosette.         -   Division.—Simple.         -   Attachment.—Sessile.         -   Quantity.—Approximately 90 leaves per rosette.         -   Shape.—Thick, succulent leaves which are ovate to narrow             ovate.         -   Dimensions.—6.8 cm long, 2.9 cm wide, and 0.7 cm thick, on             average.         -   Aspect.—Slightly concave.         -   Attitude.—Slightly curved upward.         -   Apex.—Narrow acute with a caudate tip.         -   Base.—Broad cuneate.         -   Margin.—Dentate; not undulated or lobed.         -   Texture, adaxial surface.—Glabrous and moderately covered             with papillae, each approximately 1.0 mm high and 1.0 mm in             diameter.         -   Texture, abaxial surface.—Glabrous with papillae more or             less arranged in axial rows; papilla are approximately 1.0             mm high and 1.0 mm in diameter.         -   Luster, adaxial surface.—Slightly to moderately glossy.         -   Luster, abaxial surface.—Slightly glossy.         -   Color.—Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface — Green, nearest to             RHS 139A, and fading to yellow-green towards the base,             nearest to RHS N144D; leaf moderately covered with papillae             which are colored greyed-green, in between RHS 191D and             192D. Juvenile foliage, abaxial surface — In between green,             RHS NN137A, and yellow-green, RHS 147A; fading to             yellow-green towards the base, in between RHS 144A and 144B;             leaf moderately to densely covered with papillae which are             colored greyed-green, nearest to RHS 192D. Mature foliage,             adaxial surface — In between green, RHS NN137A, and             yellow-green, RHS 147A; fading to yellow-green towards the             base, nearest to RHS 147D, and suffused with greyed-green,             RHS 194C; outermost tip of the apex is greyed-red, in             between RHS 180C and 180D; leaf moderately covered with             papillae which are colored greyed-green, in between RHS 191D             and 192D. Mature foliage, abaxial surface — In between             green, RHS NN137A, and yellow-green, RHS 147A; fading             lighter towards the base, nearest to RHS 147C, and suffused             with greyed-green, nearest to RHS 192C; outermost tip of the             apex is greyed-red, in between RHS 180C and 180D; leaf             moderately to densely covered with papillae, more or less             arranged in axial rows, which are colored greyed-green, in             between RHS 191D and 192D.         -   Venation.—No venation is visible.         -   Petiole.—No petiole; leaves are sessile. -   Inflorescence: No flowering has been observed to date. -   Comparisons with the parent plant: Plants of the new cultivar     ‘AMIAL1605’ differ from the parent, Aloe aristata, in the following     characteristics described in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘AMIAL1605’ Aloe aristata Abundance of Fewer leaves in the More leaves in the foliage. rosette. rosette. Leaf apex. Acute to broadly acute Narrowly acute with a with shorter caudate tip. caudate tip. Leaf width. Approximately 1.5 times Narrower than wider than the parent. ‘AMIAL1605’. General coloration Dark green. Green to yellow green of mature foliage. and suffused with greyed-green.

-   Comparisons with the closest known comparator: Plants of the new     cultivar ‘AMIAL1605’ differ from the commercial variety, Aloe ‘Green     Pearl’ (not patented in the United States; European Union CPVO grant     EU18402), in the following characteristics described in Table 2     below.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘AMIAL1605’ ‘Green Pearl’ Growth habit. Basal rosette with Basal rosette with innermost whorls of innermost whorls of juvenile foliage appearing juvenile foliage to be more loosely appearing to be held than those of more tightly held. ‘Green Pearl’. Leaf attitude, Foliage has a more Erect. juvenile foliage. relaxed attitude when compared to ‘Green Pearl’. Leaf thickness. Thicker than the Thinner than ‘Green Pearl’. ‘AMIAL1605’. Mature foliage; Prominent white Nearly void of occurrence of papillae. papillae. papillae. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Aloe aristata plant named ‘AMIAL1605’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 